Wild horses and burros from western public rangelands are headed for the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton this month, where they will be available for public adoption.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will offer 80 horses, including halter-trained yearlings and 20 burros to qualified adopters on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days.

Potential adopters can get a preview look at the animals when they arrive at the fairgrounds Friday, Sept. 19 at about 2 p.m.

"These horses and burros have received vaccinations and worming," said Mindy Odom, a BLM wild horse and burro specialist from Bakersfield. "Each has a complete set of health care records. The animals are ready for gentling and training."

The horses coming to Stockton were gathered from herd areas in Northeast California and Northwest Nevada, including the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area which is known for producing good-sized animals. Burros were captured from areas primarily in Southern California deserts.

The adoption event begins with an hour of silent bidding from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday. Bidding starts at $125. Animals not taken during bidding will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis or BLM's standard $125 adoption fee.

The adoption event will also feature free horse training demonstrations on both Saturday and Sunday.

To qualify, adopters must be at least 18-years-old and have the ability and financial means to care for a wild horse or burro and have no convictions for inhumane treatment of animals. At home, adopters must provide 400 square feet of living space per animal in a corral surrounded by a six-foot pipe or board fence. Horses under two-years-old can be kept in corrals with five-and-a-half-foot fences; four-and-a-half-foot fences are allowed for burros. A two-sided shelter with a roof is required for protection from severe weather.

Adopted animals must be kept in this area until they can be approached, handled, haltered and led. Non-gentled animals should never be turned loose in large open pastures.

Adopted animals must be taken from the fairgrounds by 3 p.m. on Sunday. Adopters must provide a halter and lead rope. The BLM wranglers will halter and load animals into adopters' trailers. Horses over two-years-old must be transported in stock trailers with side-swinging gates (drop ramps are not allowed). Fully enclosed two-horse trailers, with center dividers removed, are allowed for burros and yearling horses.

Title to adopted wild horses and burros remains with the federal government for one year. After providing a year of good care, adopters can receive title. During the adoption period, BLM will check on the animals' condition. During these checks, BLM staff can also provide information about training mentors who can provide advice and assistance in gentling and training.

"Wild horses are intelligent, strong and very trainable," said Odom. "They are known for their strong legs and feet. Adopters use them for trail riding, back country packing, pleasure riding and competition, such as endurance riding. People train burros for packing, pulling carts and riding. Some even use them to protect grazing sheep from predators."

Wild horses and burros are protected by a federal law, the Wild and Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act. The law protects the animals living on public lands managed by the BLM and the Forest Service, and requires the agencies to manage wild populations in balance with other range users. The BLM periodically gathers horses and burros from rangelands when populations grow too large for the range to support.

More than 180,000 animals have been placed in private care since the Adopt-A-Horse or Burro Program began in 1973.

For more information, call (866) 4MUSTANGS, or visit www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.